Culture Magazine Southern California December 2019

“People have gotten in trouble just for carrying a doobie on them. That, I definitely think is crazy.”

KushCo CEO Nick Kovacevich Shares Success Secret

JASON MEWES LASTING ICON

MASTERS NEW ROLE WITH DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

Journalist and Chef Warren Bobrow Talks Cannabis Cocktails

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inside

contents 12.2019

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FULL CIRCLE

Actor and director Jason Mewes shares about his history with the Clerks series, his directorial debut and the three new strains in his line of cannabis.

ON THE COVER:

PHOTO BY JOHN GILHOOLEY

features 14

Holiday Gift Guide Make the holidays merrier with CULTURE’s 2019 Holiday Gift Guide!

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12 Days of Giving During the holidays, explore these 12 cannabis businesses and organizations that are giving back to local communities.

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Practical Growth KushCo Holdings CEO Nick Kovacevich has grown his niche of the industry into a massive empire.

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Love and Peace Trinidadian reggae musician Marlon Asher expresses his love for the plant in his harmonic music.

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departments news

08 News Nuggets 09 By the Numbers 10 Local News 11 Legal Corner 12 Healthy Living in every issue 44 À La Carte 46 Growing Culture! 47 News of the Weird

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44 Online Exclusive! d Medical Cannabis Applications Open in West Virginia d Celebrate Hanukkah with Infused Recipes

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jamie Solis ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ashley Kern EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Benjamin Adams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Matthew Abel, Hilary Bricken, Devon Alexander Brown, Jacob Cannon, David Edmundson, Caroline Hayes, Carl Kozlowski, Alison Malsbury, Kiara Manns, Madison Ortiz, Denise Pollicella, Nicole Potter, R. Scott Rappold, Ed Rosenthal, Kimberly R. Simms, Lanny Swerdlow, Simon Weedn, Laurie Wolf PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Baker, Kristopher Christensen, John Gilhooley, Joel Meaders, Mike Rosati, Eric Stoner, Bruce Wolf ART DIRECTOR Steven Myrdahl PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Aguirre ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kim Cook, Casey Roel OFFICE MANAGER Mikayla Aguilar

CULTURE® Magazine is published every month and distributes magazines at over 600 locations throughout the Southern California. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission. CULTURE® Magazine is a registered trademark.

All rights reserved.

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NEWS

NUGGETS

California Raises Cannabis Tax Rate On Nov. 22, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) issued a media alert announcing that higher tax rates will apply to cannabis products beginning on Jan. 1, 2020.

The markup rate will be raised to 80 percent, or 30 percent higher than its current mark. The markup rate is used to calculate tax on cannabis products. “After analyzing

thousands of transactions in the state’s Track and Trace system, CDTFA analysts have determined that the required markup rate for the period beginning Jan. 1, 2020, is 80 percent,” said CDTFA Spokesperson Casey Wells. In the news release, the CDTFA provided an example, indicating that a product with a wholesale cost of $50 would generate a markup of $40 and $13.50 in excise tax.

California cannabis industry trade groups were seeking the exact opposite, or lower tax rates, and said they were “stunned and outraged” by the tax increase.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Lying about Cannabis Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Bradley Scott Dietze allegedly lied to the Los Angeles Police Department about a cannabis heist that took place last fall. Dietze was accused of posing as a narcotics officer with a search warrant, along with two other men, and carrying out a bogus raid. At the crime scene, 1,200 pounds of cannabis and $645,000 in cash and money orders were stolen. “The case was filed for warrant on Oct. 25,” a press release reads. “Dietze is expected to be arraigned on 8

DECEMBER 2019 CultureMagazine.com

Dec. 23 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Branch.

Deputy District Attorney Deann Rivard of the Justice System Integrity Division is prosecuting the case. On Oct. 29, 2018, Dietze allegedly lied to a Los Angeles Police Department officer who was investigating whether a marijuana distribution warehouse was being robbed in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted as charged, Dietze faces a possible maximum sentence of one year in county jail.”

One of Europe’s Largest Medical Cannabis Trials Launches in U.K. According to a Nov. 7 press release, Project Twenty21 will determine medical cannabis’ therapeutic effects in an attempt to become Europe’s largest medical cannabis study on chronic medical conditions. Researchers will look at 20,000 patients and observe the effects of medical cannabis for chronic conditions, with the hope of influencing the British government.

“Medical cannabis is still out of reach for far too many,” stated Professor David Nutt of Drug Science, one of the U.K.’s leading independent scientific bodies and the organization behind Project Twenty21. “Patients are left untreated, in significant debt from the cost of private prescriptions, or criminalised as they are forced to turn to the black market. They don’t deserve any of this, and the situation with prescribing desperately needs to change.” So far, the project has gained support from The Royal College of Psychiatrists, The British Pain Society and the United Patients Alliance.

The number of applicants being considered for social equity cannabis licenses in Los Angeles through Phase 3 Retail Round 1: (Source: NBC Los Angeles)

100

The number of legal cannabis businesses in California that had permits suspended in early November: (Source: Los Angeles Times)

394

The new percentage of a tax markup rate that is being implemented in the California cannabis industry starting on Jan. 1, 2020: (Source: Forbes)

The number of signatures that are required in order to place the “California Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative 2020” on the ballot: (Source: Decriminalize California)

623,212

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The estimated amount of money, in dollars, that Florida’s agriculture commissioner believes hemp crops will be worth per acre: (Source: Fox Business)

25,000

The estimated percentage of Americans who support legalizing recreational cannabis nationwide: (Source: Gallup)

66

The number of British patients who will be among the first to participate in a major medical cannabis trial: (Source: Daily Mail UK)

The amount of money, in millions of dollars, that consumers have spent on medical cannabis in Arkansas over the past six months: (Source: KARK)

20,000

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The Buzz About CBD: 2020’s Hottest Trend in Wellness WHEN: Tues, Dec. 10 WHERE: General Assembly, 360 E 2nd St. #400, Los Angeles WEBSITE: generalassemb.ly Are you ready to demystify CBD and its medical properties? Join panel moderator Meghan Bergman of PLUS Products and Tatiana Weaver of Sweet Tatas for an exploration into CBD and how it will likely trend in 2020. “CBD” is among one of the most common Google searches, and the compound will continue to become more and more popular. First, guests are invited for open

networking, followed by a panel discussion and finally, a Q&A session with industry experts. Expect to find clarity regarding common CBD questions and insight into how other Americans are taking control of their health with the help of cannabis and its derivatives. Dosages, shopping for CBD, general wellness and other topics will be covered through informative sessions.

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NEWS

LOCAL

Winter Fantasy

Removing Roadblocks

Los Angeles’ Phase 3 Retail Round 1 Social Equity Program on Hold

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By Benjamin M. Adams

he already-troubled licensing system for Los Angeles’ cannabis market now faces yet another setback as city leaders halted the licensing approval process. As of mid-November, only 189 legal stores were open to serve over four million residents, and furthermore, cannabis stores in the city operate on temporary licenses only—unlike several other major California cities with mature markets.

On Oct. 28, Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson sent a letter urging the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) to suspend its approval process. Wesson called the licensing process “compromised” as some applicants allegedly had early access to the online system. The DCR almost immediately disputed the claims.

Wesson called for an audit and a do-over of its “Phase 3 Retail Round 1 Social Equity Program” licensing round after explaining why he believes that the process wasn’t fair and transparent. Wesson recommended putting the licensing process on hold until the department can ensure that the system is fair for all parties involved.

“Over the last couple of weeks, including at the Cannabis Regulation Commission meeting last Thursday, allegations have been made that multiple applicants had 10

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access to the application portal prior to the announced start time of 10 a.m. on Tuesday Sept. 3rd,” Wesson wrote in the letter addressed to Executive Director Cat Packer.

“Unfortunately, these allegations have been substantiated by the Department at the Commission meeting and the Phase 3 Retail Round I process was compromised.” Wesson went on to say that there was “no scenario” in which the current existing licensing process could work.

The miscommunication between the DCR and Los Angeles City Council is only the tip of the iceberg. Proposition D only gave a small number of Los Angeles dispensaries limited immunity, which falls short of being a licensed, legal operation. As markets in other California cities mature, the local Los Angeles market relies on temporary solutions for the time being.

Wesson recommended that the department should suspend all Retail Round 1 applications, refund all applicants and cancel all invoices, and finally prepare a full audit and report by an independent third party.

Initially, it was unclear how the DCR would react to Wesson’s letter of reprimand.

DCR Assistant Executive Director Michelle Garakian provided CULTURE with a statement to help get a glimpse of how the department reacted to Wesson’s letter. “. . . The Department will continue to process Phase 3 Retail Round 1 applications as established in LAMC 104.06.1 until 100 Social Equity Program Applicants are determined to be eligible for further processing,” wrote DCR Executive Director Cat Packer. “However, the Department will not continue to the next phase of licensing until the audit process is complete.” In the meantime, additional applicants will have to wait for the licensing process to resume once the audit has taken place.

While the DCR grapples with the audit, it’s important to note that it takes years for cannabis markets to stabilize, and Los Angeles is among the largest cannabis markets in the world. Little by little, improvements will be made to the system as local officials iron out the existing program.

Los Angeles represents one of California’s most challenging markets to oversee, by anyone’s standards. c

What’s truly unique about this particular EDM event this year?

It’s being billed as cannabis-friendly. If you’re into trance, psytrance, house, dubstep, disco, techno or any other type of electronic music, this is where fellow ravers will converge—now for the event’s sixth year. Guests are encouraged to attend in kandi or rave attire and bring glow sticks, colorful accessories, toys and good vibes. There will be a Glow Booth, live art, giveaways, go-go dancers and over 80,000+ watts of FunktionOne technology, providing unparalleled sound.

Three themed stages will host over 15 DJs from the Los Angeles area and beyond.

The lineup includes Infinx, Jephrey, Garage Life, Eddie Wonders, InDeep, Tluxx, Tronikk, S7ven, DevenGlenn, AWP, Bvsstactics and plenty more.

No drugs will be tolerated, with the exception of cannabis, providing a safe environment.

WHEN: Sat, Dec. 14 WHERE: CATCH ONE, 4067 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles WEBSITE: catch. one

NEWS

LEGAL CORNER

includes rules regarding caregivers, physician’s recommendations and much more.

Testing

Embracing Change Understanding the California cannabis industry’s newest bills

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By Hilary Bricken

t seems like there isn’t a month that goes by in California when the Assembly isn’t trying to pass a slew of cannabis bills to help regulate the state’s industry under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). As of Oct. 13, California has some new cannabis laws on the books (thanks to Gov. Gavin Newsom). This article is dedicated to the highlights of some of those laws and how they’ll affect cannabis businesses in 2020 and beyond.

State Tax Deductions There’s no real gold standard for state cannabis taxation. And at the federal level, cannabis businesses suffer constantly under the heavy weight of I.R.C. 280E. However, Assembly Bill 37 will provide at least some tax relief to California cannabis businesses (from 2020-2024). AB-37 is a departure from California’s otherwise standard mandate that income taxation be treated the same as on the federal level, which, for cannabis businesses, formerly meant no state deductions for business expenses related to trafficking in cannabis because of I.R.C. 280E. Now though, California cannabis business owners licensed under MAUCRSA will be able to lawfully take ordinary personal, business deductions under California law.

Charitable Donations Senate Bill 34 creates better breaks for lowincome medical patients that have a physician’s recommendation but that may not have an ID card from the Department of Public Health pursuant to the 2004 Medical Marijuana Program Act. Via taxfree “compassionate care donations” by licensed retailers and/or retailer microbusinesses, before providing any medical cannabis to any qualified patient or their caregiver, those licensees have to ensure that all of the necessary criteria is met. This

Assembly Bill 404 represents a much-needed, practical change to current cannabis testing laws. If a cannabis batch sample failed testing, a cannabis company only had two choices: Remediate or destroy the batch. Now, with the passage of AB404, a testing laboratory is authorized to amend a certificate of analysis “to correct minor errors, as defined by the Bureau of Cannabis Control.” In addition, labs can now retest a failed batch sample “if the test result falls outside the specifications authorized by law or regulation, when the testing laboratory notifies the bureau, in writing, that the test was compromised due to equipment malfunction, staff error, or other circumstances allowed by the bureau and the bureau authorizes the retest.”

Social Equity Support California has made great strides in supporting local social equity programs. The California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018 authorizes the Bureau of Cannabis Control, upon request by a local jurisdiction, to provide technical assistance to a local equity program that helps local equity applicants or local equity licensees. With the passage of Senate Bill 595, “on or before Jan. 1, 2021, [the state licensing agencies will have] to develop and implement a program to provide a deferral or waiver for an application fee, a licensing fee, or a renewal fee for a needs-based applicant or needs-based licensee.” At least 60 percent of the total dollar amount of deferrals of fees pursuant to this new program will be allocated to the

deferral of fees for local equity applicants and licensees, and SB-595 also requires at least 60 percent of the total dollar amount of waivers of fees to be allocated to the waiver of fees for local equity applicants and licensees.

Research Assembly Bill 420 expands existing University of California (UC) research mandates with the authorization of the California Cannabis Research Program, hosted by the existing Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego.

The program will allow researchers to be able to conduct studies regarding the efficacy of cannabis and provide medical guidelines based on their findings.

Where the center has had issues with acquiring enough cannabis for its research purposes, AB-420 allows the center, via the program, “to cultivate cannabis for its use in research, pursuant to applicable federal and state laws and regulations.”

Vape Cartridges and Pens Assembly Bill 1259 took effect immediately, and it will change up the packaging/ labeling requirements for vape cartridges and pen makers by making life a little bit easier. Specifically, a cannabis cartridge or an integrated cannabis vaporizer that contains cannabis or a cannabis product “shall bear the universal symbol . . . [t]he universal symbol shall be visible on the cannabis cartridge or integrated cannabis vaporizer and shall not be smaller than one-quarter inch wide by one-quarter inch high. The universal symbol shall be engraved, affixed with a sticker, or printed in black or white.” c

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NEWS

HEALTHY LIVING

Riveting Research

Studies suggest that cannabis is good for public health

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By Lanny Swerdlow, RN leven states, with a combined population of 77 million people and representing roughly onefourth of America, have legalized the adult-use of cannabis for any reason. Another 120 million live in states that have legalized some form of medical cannabis. This makes for a grand total of 197 million or over 60 percent of the country.

Based on the predictions of drug warrior groups opposing cannabis legalization, we should be experiencing substantial increases in youth consumption, increased driving fatalities from impaired drivers and dramatic increases in physical and mental health ailments.

Far from their sky is falling pronouncements, the results published in peer-reviewed evidentiary-based medical journals have found that all states that legalized the medical and adult-use of cannabis have experienced positive benefits. It’s not to say that there haven’t been some problems, but overall, the effects are beneficial for public health.

A study published in the October 2019 The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse found that “medical cannabis laws increase adult but not adolescent cannabis use,” although the report did caution that “provisions of the laws associated with less regulated supply may increase adult cannabis use disorders.”

The same proved true for recreational cannabis laws as the report noted their “findings suggest little impact on the prevalence of adolescent cannabis use, potential increases in college student use, and unknown effects on other substance use.” The study went on to recognize that “these laws may reduce some opioidrelated harms, while their impacts on alcohol and tobacco use remain uncertain.”

Reducing opioid-related harm is one of the major public benefits of legalizing cannabis. Multiple research studies substantiate its pain-relieving abilities with medical researchers reporting in a 2018 study published by the American

Medical Association that “marijuana liberalization may serve as a component of a comprehensive package to tackle the opioid epidemic.”

As for the ability of cannabis to reduce alcohol consumption, another recent study also published in October 2019 in the Forum for Health Economics & Policy examined the impact of medical cannabis laws and the prevalence of “active and legally protected dispensaries” reporting that “medical marijuana laws have harm reduction effects across a variety of outcomes related to risky health behaviors.”

Elaborating on this conclusion and highlighting the need for legal access, the study reported “strong improvements in health among non-white individuals, those reporting chronic pain, and those with a high school degree, driven predominately by whether or not the state had active and legally protected dispensaries.”

Most importantly, the study concluded “that the aforementioned demographic groups experience large reductions in alcohol consumption after the implementation of a medical marijuana law.”

Even a modest reduction in alcohol consumption from the use of cannabis will provide substantial public health benefits.

As for bloodbaths on the highways, The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety have all

“Reducing opioid-related harm is one of the major public benefits of legalizing cannabis.”

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found that, unlike alcohol’s contribution to highway mayhem, there is no evidence of any relationship between THC levels in the bloodstream and impairment.

A September 2019 study published in the medical journal Cureus concluded, “There is no clear or stated correlation between the legalization of cannabis and crash rates.” The article substantiated that conclusion finding, “The correlation between alcohol and crash risk is clear and the findings are so consistent.

Some research shows that THC only causes minimal impairment and has a little contribution to crash risk.”

A 2015 study published by the University of Chicago Law School found that “the legalization of medical cannabis is associated with reduced alcohol consumption, especially among young adults.” Cannabis is not going to make you a better driver, but unlike alcohol, it is not going to make you a menace on the highway.

One of the most unambiguous conclusions found in the Cureus and other studies has been the effect on crime and punishment. In every state that has legalized cannabis, arrest rates have plummeted—98 percent in Washington, 81 percent in Colorado, 76 percent in Washington D.C., 96 percent in Oregon and 94 percent in Alaska with comparable reductions in all other legalization states.

The public health benefits resulting from the saving of hundreds of millions of dollars and sparing hundreds of thousands of people from being saddled with lifelong criminal records is almost beyond measure. c

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Harvest Holiday Hats, Finger-Less Gloves and Scarves The Harvest Holiday Hats, Finger-Less Gloves and Scarves are all made from 100 percent acrylic material, which has a soft, lightweight feel. The hat is one size fits all and has braided accents. The scarf features Harvest’s limited-edition holiday pattern with fringed ends. The gloves feature sewn cuff labels and a fingerless style, perfect for that holiday smoke break!

MORE INFORMATION: harvestswag.com/collections/holidaze

Holiday Punch Camino Gummies Get all the feels of Christmas morning with Kiva’s limited edition Holiday Punch Camino gummies. Each delicious gummy contains 5mg of THC and boasts energizing terpenes with notes of cranberry and cinnamon that will have you leaping out of bed with joyful anticipation. Welcome to the most tailored edible experience on the market.

PRICE: $18 MORE INFORMATION: kivaconfections.com

NUG Vape Carts Pure Cannabis, Pure Innovation, Pure Convenience—NUG’s vape carts are the perfect union of state-of-theart cannabis extraction and innovative cartridge technology. With the casual consumer in mind, NUG vape carts utilize an all ceramic k-coil heating element. The cartridges come in six flavors featuring a live resin or NUG refined finish. #NUGpure #NUGvape PRICE: $45 for NUG Refined, $55 for Premium Live Resin MORE INFORMATION: NUG.com/ wegrowcalifornia

Spectrum King LED SK402 We have a gift for that special someone in your life who has a green thumb. This is an all white, highly reflective 460 watt patented Full Spectrum LED Grow Light that is made in the USA. The all-around white coating gives better intensity on the outer edge of your canopy. Can be used for both vegetative and flower growth, and it’s perfect for plants that are particularly sensitive while only using a fraction of the energy. Guaranteed to lower your overall ambient room temperature, you can choose to add a manual dimmer, which enables turning the power down to as low as 10 percent for more control when needed.

PRICE: $749 MORE INFORMATION: spectrumkingled.com

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Harvest Holiday Pre-roll Cards Make the season cheery and bright with these three limited-edition cards that feature a pre-roll holder. A clever holiday collab with 420Cardz, these Harvest Holiday Pre-roll Cards will have the cannabis consumers on your holiday shopping list feeling the love.

The pre-roll joint is not included.

MORE INFORMATION: harvestswag.com/collections/holidaze

Toker Poker Your stocking stuffer search ends here! For only $10 the Toker Poker will certainly bring cheer to that special stoner on your list (even if that is you). This soulfully designed lighter case has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Finally, your poker, tamper, hemp wick and lighter are in the same place. Use promo code CULTURE20 for 20 percent off at tokerpoker.com (offer expires 12/31/2019).

PRICE: Starting at $9.95 MORE INFORMATION: tokerpoker.com

House of Saka Pink Infused Beverage House of Saka Pink is an infused beverage crafted from grapes picked at the peak of ripeness from select vineyards in California’s iconic Napa Valley. The grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel for optimal flavor and aroma extraction before being infused with House of Saka’s proprietary CBD:THC formulation. Nonalcoholic, micro-dosable and naturally low in calories, House of Saka’s Infused Beverages deliver a controlled yet elevated cannabis experience.

PRICE: $49.99 MORE INFORMATION: houseofsaka.com 16

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Airgraft Clean Vaporizer Airgraft Clean Vaporizer is a next level pod vaporizer that works with the verified SecurePod, the only vaporizer cartridge with crypto-strength security that prevents counterfeiting. A range of live resins extracted from single cultivar flower are perfectly served by the ZeroBurn dynamic vapor engine that heats each oil with the optimal temperature profile. The result is no burn in your vapor or throat for a smooth, clean taste.

PRICE: $98 MORE INFORMATION: airgraft.com

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Kannastor® GR8TR® V2

An update on the classic GR8TR® model, the V2 features food-grade anodized aluminum, interchangeable grinder plates, anti-residue and friction rings, and the signature versatile design. What makes the GR8TR® so adaptable?

In addition to delivering the smoothest ground herb, this iconic Kannastor® accessory can be easily broken down into a storage puck for easy traveling.

No other grinder on the market has this many versatile configurations. For 25 percent off, use promo code at check out: RYOTHOLIDAY. MORE INFORMATION: kannastor.com

KRYPTO-KIT™

The RYOT® Krypto-Kit™ is the most popular pocketable storage system for glass bats and small vapes ever designed. Released in 2000, the Krypto-Kit™ was the company’s first invention. Today the Krypto-Kit™ has been redesigned with smaller specs for extra pocketability, odor absorption technology, and optimized storage for smoking accessories. The Krypto-Kit™ is the perfect solution for the daily smoker! For 25 percent off, use promo code at check out: RYOTHOLIDAY. MORE INFORMATION: ryot.com

LOCK’R BOX™

An all-in-one smoking station, the elegantly crafted RYOT® 11” x 10” Solid Top Locking LOCK’R Box™ with Walnut Rolling Tray and 3 Storage Jars comes with three storage containers and a removable, easy scoop walnut tray. RYOT® Prep Trays feature handcrafted over-vert walls, giving you the perfect angle to collect your herb without creating a mess. Additionally, the expertly designed corner funnel allows you to move excess herbs back into a RYOT® jar or box for later use.

For 25 percent off, use promo code at check out: RYOTHOLIDAY. MORE INFORMATION: ryot.com

RYOT® VERB™ DHV

INTRODUCING . . . THE RYOT® VERB™ DHV. With so many dry herb vapes on the market, the experts at RYOT® sat back and expected somebody to make a pocketable vape that was easy to load, easy to use and gave a hit that could truly satisfy. After years of waiting, they realized that no one was going to produce a vape “For Smokers By Smokers.” So that’s what they’ve done. HIT IT! Features include an innovative stay cool smooth draw mouthpiece, easy load funneled oven chamber, integrated stainless steel poker tool, rapid heating temperature control, OLED Display and slim hips, plus a limited two-year warranty. For 25 percent off, use promo code at check out: RYOTHOLIDAY. MORE INFORMATION: ryot.com

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KushyCBD CBD Gummy Formula KushyCBD’s classic peach gummy is made with organic ingredients, natural flavoring and tapioca syrup instead of fructose or corn syrup. It harnesses all the goodness and true potential of the plant by preserving the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids associated with broad spectrum oil.

PRICE: $19.95 per gummy MORE INFORMATION: kushycbd.com

STIIIZY’s Liquid Live Resin Extracted directly from locally-sourced cannabis plants, STIIIZY’s cannabis derived terpenes capture the full terpenes profile of each strain, offering exceptional synergy both flavor and potency. Extracted directly from freshly harvested, flash-frozen cannabis plants, STIIIZY’s Liquid Live Resin preserves the authentic taste profile and delivers a full spectrum cannabis extract. Introduced seasonally, in small batches, this craft cannabis provides a synergy between cannabinoids and terpene for the ultimate entourage effect. Visit www.STIIIZY.com and follow @STIIIZY (IG, FB and Twitter).

MORE INFORMATION: STIIIZY.com

DAVINCI IQ Do you want your vape hits to be as smooth as butter this holiday season? If so, DAVINCI IQ’s technology will take consumers to the highest of highs without any choking or coughing as a result. This intelligent vaporizer delivers Smart PathTM temperature settings, which means each draw off of the vape is precise and pure.

Plus, this clever technology is compatible with a Bluetooth app that gives the user complete control over tracking their sessions. Available in three colors—Stealth, Gunmetal and Blue, opt for a customized engraving on the DAVINCI IQ to make it ultra-personal for that special someone in your life.

PRICE: $274.99 MORE INFORMATION: www.davincivaporizer.com

Mood Bars by Chill TM Introducing Mood Bars by ChillTM chocolate! Each Mood Bar is handmade using the finest quality, strain specific, full spectrum cannabis oil. Fall asleep effortlessly with the 4:1 Dream bar, brighten your day with the 2:1 Inspire bar, or experience cannabis-CBD’s true restorative “entourage effects” with the 20:1 Peace bar. Let Chill chocolate help you set the mood this holiday season!

Visit www.thehighestchocolate.com.

PRICE: $15 MORE INFORMATION: thehighestchocolate.com

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Marley Natural TM Core premium pre-rolls are made exclusively from locallysourced and sustainably-sungrown whole flower. Each pre-roll is carefully hand-filled in unbleached paper with a crutch filter for that smooth Marley smoke. Each reusable tin includes three 0.5 gram pre-rolls, which are perfect for any occasion. Available in Sativa, Hybrid, Indica and CBD. Learn more at www.marleynatural.com.

PRICE: $16 MORE INFORMATION: www.marleynatural.com

Paradise Vegan Gummy Drops These delicious bite-size CBD gummies deliver a healthy, convenient dose of quality CBD. Paradise infuses each vegan drop with solvent-free CO2 extracted hemp oil, organic sugar, tapioca syrup and other natural flavors. The products are gluten-free using only non-GMO ingredients. The products contain no animal gelatin, corn syrup or artificial additives. Check out the entire line from Paradise, the original maker of infused sweets.

PRICE: $14 MORE INFORMATION: TasteParadise.com

Mind Your Head TM Your guide to cannabis-enhanced consciousness.

Legendary explorer and artist living at the “Edge of Magic,” Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart invites all adventurous spirits to follow their sense of wonder.

Find your groove and beckon the muse with Mind Your HeadTM Magic Minis, 10 1/3 gram pre-rolls expertly packed with stimulating whole flower Chemdog. Each reusable tin is adorned with Hart’s celebrated artwork.

Visit www.mindyourheadcannabis.com.

PRICE: $30 MORE INFORMATION: mindyourheadcannabis.com

Fruit Notes Experience rhapsodies of flavor this holiday season with Coda Signature’s new Fruit Notes. A great stocking stuffer for every adult member of the family, these flavor infused sugar confections are all-natural, vegan and gluten-free. Available in 5mg THC pieces and five unique flavor pairings, there is sure to be an option for everyone on your list!

MORE INFORMATION: codasignature.com/product_cat/fruit-notes/

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HANDLING THE HELM

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Photos by: John Gilhooley

Jason Mewes gets real on acting, directing and his latest projects in the film industry

D

by Benjamin M. Adams

Deep down, actor, comedian, director and film

After all, many of us were

producer Jason Mewes was shaped by his humble

originally introduced to

background growing up in a working-class

young actors such as

neighborhood in Highlands, New Jersey, before

Jason Lee, Ben Affleck,

being thrust into the glamour of Hollywood in the

Ethan Suplee via the

mid-’90s. His best friend Kevin Smith cast him

View Askewniverse. Seth

as Jay, an extension of Mewes’ true personality,

Rogen, Will Ferrell, Alanis

for Smith’s debut film Clerks—a film that would

Morrisette and Rosario

become the definition of a cult classic.

Dawson co-starred with him

Clearly, Clerks was only the beginning. The

as well. Mewes’ directorial

View Askewniverse, encompassing characters

debut, Madness in the

such as Jay and Silent Bob began to take form. A

Method, was released last

series of smash hit comedies followed, including

August and most recent

Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob

film Jay & Silent Bob

Strike Back and Clerks II. By then, Mewes was

Reboot was released

sought after by other film executives—landing

last October. Mewes

roles in films such as Scream III and Bottoms

took the time to discuss

Up. In 2002, Mewes joined High Times to star in

directing, his recent films

High Times’ Potluck. He also starred in numerous

and past experiences

recurring roles on television.

with cannabis before

It is difficult to overstate the overall influence that Mewes has played on modern comedy.

embarking on a sober lifestyle six years ago.

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“[KEVIN SMITH] SAW THE MOVIE SLACKER AND SAID, ‘THIS COUNTS AS A MOVIE?! I WANT TO TRY TO MAKE A MOVIE. I KNOW THAT I COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.’ SO, YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHEN HE CAME UP WITH CLERKS.”

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Jay & Silent Bob Reboot is about how the duo wants to stop Hollywood from filming a reboot of their movie. Do you think there are too many reboots today?

Not really. It’s fun for me to see what people do and where they go with it. It’s really just Jay and Bob making fun of remakes, but not making fun of [specific movies] at the same time. For me, it’s interesting to see that they want to try to reboot something and bring it back. I definitely think they shouldn’t touch certain movies, but at the same time, it’s always important to say, “Oh, I wonder if it’s going to turn out good? Is it going to be bad? Is it going to be decent?” So no, I don’t personally think so.

But over 10 actors/voice actors have played Batman.

I see, but I feel like if they would stick with the same man, and I could be wrong, it wouldn’t [be as great]. I think that they redid Batman because they wanted to tell a new story, or the person just didn’t want to be Batman anymore. I feel like if someone in Spider-Man starred in a movie, if he loves being Spider-Man, and they’re going to do 10 [films], then maybe he’ll do 10. I know as far as the studio is concerned, it might be the studio’s decision. But I feel like a lot of times the actor just decides, “Oh, I don’t wanna do that anymore.” And they want to make a new move. So, to me, the old Batmans are awesome and then the new Batmans were cool to see.

Everyone has their own favorite.

I didn’t think anyone could do a better Joker than Jack Nicholson, and then you had Heath Ledger, who was awesome. I wouldn’t say he was better than Jack Nicholson, but he definitely did his own Joker.

And now we get to say, “This Joker is amazing, or this Joker is amazing,” but they were different.

If they decided not to do a new Batman, we would’ve never got to see the Batman with Ledger, and we would’ve missed that brilliant performance.

Did Jay & Silent Bob begin as a skit?

No. Kevin said, “Hey, I’m writing a movie.” He tells the story best, but he saw the movie Slacker and said, “This counts as a movie?! I want to try to make a movie. I know that I could do something like this.” So, you know, that’s when he came up with Clerks. He came up with Jay, because he always thought I was funny, and he wanted to find out if other people also found my sense of humor funny.

Not just him, but people in our neighborhood in New Jersey. “Will people in Portland find us funny? Will people in Los Angeles find us funny?”

So, you know, that’s how he came up with the character Jay. That was based on exactly how I was at the time, at the age of 13 up to 17, when we filmed the movie.

So, is Clerks 3 a for sure thing?

It seems that way. I know Kevin is definitely writing the script. I think it’s a really good idea for a script. I know he spoke to Jeff [Anderson] and Jeff’s in. And why it didn’t happen last time—there was a script there, and you know, we had a place to shoot it, and the money was there. But with Jeff, I don’t know what happened at the time, but he was busy. Something happened, and we had to move on. So, then we were going to do a Mallrats [sequel], and Mallrats didn’t happen, because Universal owned the rights to Mallrats and didn’t want to make the movie.

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Tell us about your three new strains.

Kevin met with Mike [Brunson], who’s a big part of that, and he loved his stuff.

He was telling me that he’s been wanting to do a Jay and Bob line. And Mike was like, “I can totally make that happen.” So, he sat down and made three brand-new strains of the sativa, hybrid and indica, and we got to put our names on them, with Snoochie Boochies, Snoogans and Berzerker. It just came about with Kevin having a conversation and wanting to do it for a long time. But also trying these other strains and falling in love with them.

What do you think about America’s cannabis laws? Are they too harsh?

I’ve always thought it’s been crazy. People have gotten in trouble just for carrying a doobie on them. That, I definitely think is crazy. I get it when someone’s doing backroom deals with pounds and pounds and the danger of doing something sketchy, but yes, I definitely think it’s too harsh. I remember when we got arrested once when I was in Highlands, New Jersey.

I believe I was about 17 or 18 years old. We were coming back from the beach and my buddy had smoked, and when he threw the roach out the window, it blew back in the window, and it was on the floor when we got pulled over.

They brought us all down to the police station for just a roach—and I mean, there wasn’t like any weed left in it, in the paper. It was pretty much just an empty soggy piece of paper with the resin on it. My buddy looked at the cop and said, “Hey, it’s my car.” We had no idea it was on the floor and we’d get in trouble. He ended up getting on probation and community 28

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service or something crazy like that. That, to me, is ridiculous. So, you know, it’s pretty awesome that you can go to certain states and just walk in a store with your ID. You recently directed Madness in the Method. What is the film all about?

[Directing] is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while, because I got to mess around with Kevin a few times, and he let me direct some excerpts.

As time went on, as I do movie after movie, I started thinking like a director, like, “Hey, why would I come through this door? Wouldn’t I rather come this other way?”

That’s what happened. It was because I wanted to challenge myself and do something different. That’s what [Madness in the Method] is all about—an alternative version of Jay Mewes, and how people always ask him to play those “Snoochie Boochies guys.”

Do you plan on directing more movies?

I would love to. It’s just a matter of if someone wants to give me another opportunity. I wish I could write and do what Kevin did with Clerks. I sort of did that with this movie, but I had my friend write. I think that once things have calmed down with Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, and we’re done touring, I can really sit down and try to figure out a plan.

Or I’m hoping that someone sees the movie and already has money and a script, and just wants me to direct their movie.

You’ve been doing the “Jay & Silent Bob Get Old” podcast for nearly 10 years now. Why do you think it’s lasted so long?

I think because we just kept

touring with it. It started off at the Black Box Theater.

Kevin had opened up called SModcastle. That’s where the idea sort of stemmed from.

Kevin was doing a couple of live shows. It looked like so much fun, and I said I really wanted to do a podcast.

And he said, “What are we going to talk about?” I said “I don’t know.” Then he said, “You were four years sober, and relapsed, you were doing so good, so why do you think you relapsed?”

I explained that I wasn’t accountable to anybody.

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I stopped going to meetings.

I didn’t have any support system. So he said, “Let’s do the podcast. We’ll talk about your stuff. You’ll never forget about it, because we’ll be talking about it so much. And you want to go back there and doing that again—you know, living in an apartment with no heater. And you’ll be accountable to the listeners.”

So it started off with 40 people, and others started to download it. We downloaded it on SModcastle. It sold out like in a week. We had no idea that that many people would want to watch. Then we moved up to the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, which held 160 people. And that was selling out every week.

We decided if we’re doing it in New York, we might as well go to Florida. We just started setting up the tour, and I think a combination of keeping the stories fresh each time and being able to tour to different cities. Then we went to Australia and London and Scotland. That’s all part of why [it lasted].

What upcoming projects do you have to announce?

Reboot Roadshow will be on in a city near you. Besides that, there are no movies I’m locked into now. I’ve been streaming on Twitch.

I build Legos. I do IRL, like backpacking and doing different things. And I also play video games. JayMewes is my Twitch channel. Kevin and I are actually doing something this week together, so I’m trying to do collabs with people, and there’s a couple of them set up. Keep an eye out for them. Besides the Reboot, the movie, and doing press, I’ve been mainly streaming in my free time. c www.jmewes.com

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Fabled Filmmaker Kevin Smith discusses vape-related lung illness epidemic amid cannabis line release

by Benjamin M. Adams

Kevin Smith is undoubtedly Jason Mewes’ true partner-in-crime, and the two have remained friends through thick and thin—both on and off the screen. Smith’s more recent film, Jay & Silent Bob Reboot, was released theatrically in the United States on Oct. 15, and he is currently working on the upcoming comedy horror anthology Killroy Was Here and writing the script for Clerks III, which he hopes to release soon. In addition, Smith is working on his Netflix original animated series Masters of the Universe: Revelation, a reboot of the classic 1983 TV show.

Anyone who is familiar with the View Askewniverse knows that Smith adores the leafy green plant. Smith and Mewes recently collaborated with Caviar Gold’s Mike Brunson to create three strains: Snoogans, Snoochie Boochies and Berzerker. The strains are infused with 95 percent pure organic THC distillate and are rolled in kief for a product that resembles moon rocks. The strains are sold in pre-rolls or in 3.5 gram jars.

CULTURE recently snagged Smith at Herbarium, one of his personal favorite dispensaries in West Hollywood, California. In the wake of the nationwide vaping scare, Smith provided some insight about his thoughts on the epidemic, as entrepreneurship within the cannabis industry often overlaps with the vaping industry.

“Well what happened is the government said a couple days ago that ‘we’re taking vaping off the market’ and a lot of states are dropping it instantly like a hot rock, in such a way,” Smith explained.

“There have been six to 10 deaths—which are heartbreaking—but the way they were like ‘we’ve got to get rid of this instantly,’ you’d think they know something that we don’t. Like that vaping causes vampirism or makes you turn into a werewolf. But instead they called it a public health hazard.”

“The only question that I have is, and I’m not a vaper myself, is that 10 people have died from vaping,” Smith added. “But how many people died from smoking a cigarette yesterday? Where’s the public crisis for this? It just makes no sense.” Since speaking with Smith, there have been more incidents totally to a several dozen total vapingrelated lung illness deaths—but as he said, it pales in comparison to cigarette deaths. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is responsible for 1,300 deaths per day worldwide. The real crisis, he explained, would be better suited to focus on the prevalence of cigarettes or one of the many deadly substances such as alcohol or opioids.

Smith has ventured into the cannabis industry multiple times before.

Los Angeles, California-based Bud & Roses, for instance, sold two strains several years ago that were named after Smith’s outrageous comedy-horror film Tusk. His latest foray into the industry likely won’t be his last. c

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12 DAYS OF Pay it forward by supporting these 12 altruistic cannabis companies and charitable organizations

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By Caroline Hayes

The nation’s cannabis industry is a tight-knit one, and it’s in full effect in many states.

Various cannabis companies are consistently working together to improve laws, innovate and come together for philanthropic efforts. The industry generates a lot of revenue, allowing the profitable companies to use their powers for good and give back from local to global levels. CULTURE highlights several companies for our 12 Days of Giving special that are focused on charity in the cannabis space. Compassion leads to healing, and it’s happening just in time for the holidays.

1

Bloom Farms Bloom Farms, a cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD company, is committed to helping solve the problem of food insecurity in the states that the company operates in, year after year, by partnering with local food banks. Bloom Farms proudly announced in November that it served its two-millionth meal as a direct result of its 1-1 meal program, which launched in December of 2015. For every Bloom Farms product sold, the company donates one meal to a local food bank in California or Nevada. Michael Ray, founder and CEO of Bloom Farms told CULTURE that the 1-1 program is part of the company’s infrastructure. “We are seeing firsthand the lightbulb go off for some people when they realize they can contribute to real change simply through purchasing decisions that have some kind of social giveback, and we think it raises their expectations for what companies across all industries should be doing,” Ray said. Bloom Farms encourages donations to local food banks nationwide. Visit bloomfarms.com to sign up as a volunteer, and purchase Bloom Farms products in stores to contribute to the 1-1 meal program.

2

Cannabis Doing Good Awards Other ways the cannabis industry is feeling the effects of dogooders is by celebrating them in an event that supports even more organizations. The 2019 Cannabis Doing Good Awards was a gala that supported Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and was a celebration of cannabis companies’ charitable movements. Courtney Mathis, CEO and co-founder of Cannabis Doing Good told CULTURE, “When we set out to create the awards, one of our primary goals was to give consumers, patients and other businesses a way to identify impactful product or partners in our industry. I think we’ve done that and given folks a fun,

“[…] We have made an impact by creating bridges of trust between cannabis and noncannabis organizations, which have been difficult to navigate because not every organization wants to accept cannabis dollars or be associated with cannabis companies.” accessible way to celebrate the good our industry is doing. We are thrilled to have our first-year awards go out to Sana Packaging, Last Prisoner Project and Lightshade. These companies and the people behind them absolutely uphold our core value—that serving people, planet and communities is a privileged opportunity, unique to this industry, to deploy economic, political and social change-making.

Businesses for good are no longer the future, they are the right now.” Cannabis Doing Good is inspiring social responsibility in the cannabis industry and encouraging companies to give back. Visit cannabisdoinggood.com to view upcoming events where just your ticket purchase gives back.

3

CBD Daily Unfortunately, there is a large population of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (IEH) in the U.S., but companies like CBD Daily are working hard to provide assistance to those in need. CBD Daily makes a line of CBD-infused body, skin and hair care products, and a portion of the proceeds

are donated to the Get Together Foundation (GTF), which provides aid in the forms of housing, food, clothing and music to IEH. CBD Daily is a love child from Earthly Body, which is a parent company to several different brands, all of which donate proceeds to various associated charities. Kevin and Mare Wachs saw a need for naturally-derived products that were safe and effective for everyone to use and also envisioned an opportunity to generate funds to help those less fortunate. This led them to create Earthly Body, GTF and CBD Daily.

CBD Daily products are made from hemp-based CBD and don’t contain any THC, so they can be purchased online and delivered nationwide.

Earthly Body is a company that was designed to give 100 percent of its donations to appropriated charities. Visit cbddailyproducts. com to purchase with the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting people who need help.

4 Elixinol

Elixinol is a hemp-derived CBD company with a vision to positively give back on a global level by donating a portion of every purchase to a nonprofit organization, giving the buyer the choice of which organization to donate to. When you make an online purchase, you choose from one of the listed nonprofits to benefit from the portion of your sale. Currently on that list are The Realm of Caring, Wounded Warrior Project, Autism One, Vote Hemp, American Brain Tumor Association and The Cancer Cure Foundation.

Elixinol is driven by a team of visionaries who advocate for natural health and believe in teamwork, which makes their dream of giving back work so well. The company’s 7 Pillars of Success guidelines highlight its sincere cause to give back worldwide and promote good health. Nationwide, consumers can give back simply by purchasing products at elixinol.com.

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5

Last Prisoner Project The Last Prisoner Project (LPP), founded by Harborside’s Steve DeAngelo, is a diversely-run nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting those who have been negatively affected by the “War on Drugs.” The nonprofit group raises money to benefit their efforts. Earlier in 2019, nearly $30,000 was collected to benefit the LPP from a swanky dinner party featuring a famous chef and a few Hollywood names. In addition, the efforts from LPP’s partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) led efforts to create equity and re-introduction into the cannabis industry for those who are low-income, people of color and have had their lives derailed by minor drug charges. LPP and ACLU host forums to educate local townspeople how to restore justice in the cannabis space now that legalization and decriminalization are sweeping the country causing some crimes to be no longer illegal. In addition to providing education, the LPP is providing assistance with donations to help those affected by the “War on Drugs” get back onto their feet. The LPP took home the Change Maker Award at the 2019 Cannabis Doing Good Awards.

Donate at lastprisonerproject.org.

6

Lightshade Lightshade, a Colorado dispensary chain, is taking care of those who need a little extra help this holiday season and all year long. For this season of giving “Lightshade [will] sponsor nine families with young children through Colorado Homeless Families and integrate all of our employees in shopping for, wrapping presents and presenting to the recipients,” Lisa Gee, director of marketing and CSR for Lightshade told CULTURE. Lightshade regularly donates clothing, toiletries and food to Aurora’s homeless population, and once a year, the company hosts Aurora Warms the Night, where Lightshade provides a shower trailer complete with actual restrooms.

Lightshade collects warm clothing during its The Season of Giving

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“We are seeing firsthand the lightbulb go off for some people when they realize they can contribute to real change simply through purchasing decisions that have some kind of social giveback, and we think it raises their expectations for what companies across all industries should be doing.”

Campaign. Also, when temperatures drop below 20 degrees, Lightshade funds hotel rooms for the homeless.

Also noted by Gee are the monthly donations to The Gathering Place, a day shelter for women, children and LGBTQ people in Denver. In 2019, Lightshade provided 3,492 hours of volunteer work, donated more than $120,000 in in-kind donations and nine percent in financial donations.

Lightshade won the Good Neighbor Award at the 2019 Cannabis Doing Good Awards. You can support this notable company by simply shopping at its stores and contributing when Lightshade holds food and clothing drives at its various storefronts.

7

MagicalButter MagicalButter is a DIY-botanical extractor, designed for making cannabis butters or oils right at home. Every year in December, the Florida-based MagicalButter team comes together and chooses a charitable cause for its Cheers to Goodness! program. In 2016,

Puerto Rico legalized medical cannabis, which began the uprising of its cannabis industry. In 2017, Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on the island and destroyed the building of processing facilities, equipment, greenhouses and storefronts. This was a major setback for their medical cannabis patients. For its 2018 Cheers to Goodness! program, MagicalButter chose to show Puerto Rico some love. Garyn Angel CEO and founder told CULTURE, “As you are well aware, Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico. MagicalButter couldn’t stand by and watch. We immediately wanted to help and flew down to the island many times in the storm’s aftermath with much-needed supplies. Beyond the basics, [we] donated 420 MagicalButter machines directly to medical cannabis patients. Together we win.” Support MagicalButter’s Cheers to Goodness program this year by purchasing your own Magical Butter maker at magicalbutter.com.

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8

Sana Packaging It’s no secret that the cannabis industry, like so many other industries, generates a lot of one-time use waste.

Contributing to the Earth’s well-being all year long is necessary for a healthy planet. Sana Packaging is dedicated to creating sustainable and compliant packaging for the cannabis industry.

Founded by college buddies James Eichner and Ron Basak-Smith, Sana provides an alternative to plastics and a desire to drive business in the U.S. “Localization is incredibly important as our goal is to create cannabis packaging for a circular economy.

As we expand globally, our goal will be to localize our supply chains and manufacturing in different regions where we have a strong presence,” Eichner explained. Sana Packaging products are made from U.S. sourced hemp and reclaimed ocean plastics from Oceanworks, a California company that deals in reclaimed and recycled ocean plastics on a global level. Not only does the company care about the environment, it cares about contributing to cannabis advocacy and reform. The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy benefit from Sana’s donations. Sana won the Love Your Planet award at the 2019 Cannabis Doing Good Awards.

Visit sanapackaging.com to learn more about a better alternative to traditional plastic.

9

The Sublime Foundation The cannabis industry has an apparent disconnect between people who need cannabis and those are actually able to access it. The Sublime Foundation is a subgroup of Sublime Canna, a cannabis product company in California. The foundation was created to promote philanthropic programs to help medical cannabis patients gain access to the meds they need to feel better. The Sublime Foundation strives to create equity and good health in the cannabis workplace in hopes that those efforts will assist its goals of helping people get back on track, whether it be in the workplace or healing with cannabis. In addition, The Sublime Foundation supports those 36

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whose lives have been negatively affected by the “War on Drugs” by encouraging social equality in the workforce. The Sublime Foundation’s vision proudly states, “We envision a cannabis company that promotes the physical, mental and financial wellbeing of underserved communities worldwide.” Reach out to The Sublime Foundation to donate, or if someone you know could benefit from these services, visit sublimefoundation.com.

10 Tokeativity®

Tokeativity® is a nonprofit, global women’s social club that supports a few different women empowerment programs. Founders Lisa Snyder and Samantha Montanaro told CULTURE that Tokeativity® donates to the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Warrior Sisters and Women Leaders in Cannabis. “We focus on organizations that will have the largest impact on women in our local communities,” the founders said. Tokeativity® also hosts a scholarship program in addition to the retreats it hosts several times a year. “Access and lack of funds is one of the biggest barriers for women to pursue personal and professional growth. The biggest impacts we have seen have been low income and minority women being able to access connections and resources through our Tokeativity® global network. Additionally, we have made an impact by creating bridges of trust between cannabis and noncannabis organizations, which have been difficult to navigate because not every organization wants to accept cannabis dollars or be associated with cannabis companies,” the founders said. Visit tokeativity.com to acquire more information on how to get involved with the group or start your own chapter.

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Veterans For Cannabis Sick from the prescription meds given for PTSD or pain, U.S. veterans are requesting better access to clean, affordable, medical cannabis.

Veterans For Cannabis (VCF) has created a system that benefits

veterans’ needs. VFC teamed up with Medical Genomics and Potent LTD to create a three-step approach for cannabis for veterans. The goals are as follows: 1) Consistent, good quality CBD oil with specific dosing guidelines and a way to track progress through the VFC foundation, 2) Working to create consistent, DNA sequenced certified cannabis strains in stores in states with medical cannabis so veterans can be sure they are getting the same exact product every time, and 3) Getting VFC-certified cannabis in dispensaries in states with recreational cannabis that will be sold at a lower cost for veterans. There is an epidemic with the quality of health among veterans in this country.

The accidental overdose death rate from prescription drugs is higher in veterans than any other social group, and the VFC’s website reports that 22 veterans die by suicide per day. There are a variety of cannabis for veteran projects circulating the country. Look into how you can assist our nation’s heroes this holiday season by donating at vfcusa.com.

12 Weed for Good

Weed for Good is a nonprofit organization that contributes its time to helping chronically or terminally ill patients who can’t afford cannabis medication in California.

Cannabis products can be pricey, and no matter how much they might improve one’s health, many can’t afford to use them regularly enough to benefit from the relief. Weed for Good provides free or low-cost medical cannabis to those in need with donations from local cannabis companies and business partnerships with local organizations, hospitals and clinics. The organization also relies on cash donations from its community, and it benefits from licensed volunteers donating their time. Head to weedforgood.org to donate, volunteer or request services. Because of current federal laws, Weed For Good can’t offer its services to anyone not in California, but it does run throughout the entire state. c

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In d u s try I n s id er

Striking Gold

KushCo Holdings CEO Nick Kovacevich dominates the green rush without ever touching the plant

By R. Scott Rappold When the California Gold Rush broke out in 1848, the first millionaire didn’t get rich by mining or prospecting.

San Francisco businessman Samuel Brannan made the first million dollars selling equipment to the frenzied hordes who descended on California with gold in their dreams and money bursting out of their pockets. He went on to become one of the world’s richest men.

A different sort of rush is happening now in California and the other 10 states that have legalized cannabis.

It’s been called the “Green Rush,” and like Brannan, one California company is proving you don’t need to grow, sell, extract or even touch the plant to be successful.

“We have a small part of more legal cannabis transactions than any other company in the world,” says Nick Kovacevich, 33, chairman and CEO of KushCo Holdings. “Maybe 38

we provided them with the vaping pen. Maybe we provided them with the packaging. Maybe we provided them with branding services.”

In just five years the company has grown from practically nothing to $145 million in annual sales providing packaging, branding, vaping products and myriad other services to the burgeoning legal cannabis industry.

“One way or another, if you’re picking up a product, there’s a high likelihood we had something to do with it.

Because we’re working with 6,000 cannabis businesses throughout the world, we’re getting our fingers and hands on a lot of these transactions.

By being an ancillary company, we don’t actually touch the plant.”

“When people were looking at growing and opening dispensaries, we were looking at how do we build a set of products to support those endeavors?

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E ntrepreneurial Spirit A born entrepreneur, Kovacevich launched his first company in 2007 with a college friend. PackMyDorm provided college students at four California campuses with packing materials, scheduled movers, arranged storage between semesters and scheduled movers for the return to school.

He wasn’t lifting heavy boxes, though.

The actual moving was contracted out.

He sold the company in 2010.

Around that time, Kovacevich grew interested in the cannabis industry.

He’d been raised by his district-attorney father to see it in a negative light and as an athlete in college he rarely partook.

It was while recovering from knee surgery he decided to try it again and “quickly realized a lot of the information I believed was false.” Ever the entrepreneur, he decided after selling PackMyDorm he would launch his own company in 2010.

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Medical cannabis was booming in places like California and Colorado, but he didn’t want to join with the rest of the herd and run a farm or store.

“When people were looking at growing and opening dispensaries, we were looking at how do we build a set of products to support those endeavors?

What are they going to need on a daily basis that we can provide?” he recalled. So Kush Bottles was born, designing and selling packaging for cannabis products and helping to make childproof packages the industry standard.

He took over as CEO in 2014 and has since renamed the company KushCo Holdings, because these days, the company is about way more than just bottles.

E xponential Growth Today, Kovacevich’s company is actually several smaller companies: Kush Supply Co. provides vaporizer products, packaging, supplies and accessories. Kush Energy sells ultra-pure hydrocarbon gases and solvents. The Hybrid Creative is a design agency for cannabis and non-cannabis brands. Koleto Innovations focuses on research and development.

From his humble beginnings, his companies have sold more than 1 billion units, with 220 employees spread across five facilities in five states with legal cannabis.

Never heard of these companies? Not surprising.

They don’t sell a single product containing THC. That’s up to their customers.

He credits his success to foresight and customer service. KushCo Holdings had a warehouse in Colorado within a few months of legalization there.

It had one in Washington years before legalization. It had one in Massachusetts three months before legal cannabis sales began there.

And having customers who are also growing exponentially helps too.

“All our customers, for the most part, have been growing. So, when our customers grow, they buy more from us, which means we grow.”

T aking on the Black Market There are still threats to the industry, but Kovacevich sees none greater than the black market.

“The black market, especially in California, is very rampant. People in this industry are used to buying through informal sources like dealers, but they’re also used to going to pop-up medical shops, which are now servicing rec,” he says.

This year, the United Cannabis Business Association released an analysis that found there were 2,835 illegal stores and delivery services in California, more than three times the 873 legal sellers.

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“One way or another, if you’re picking up a product, there’s a high likelihood we had something to do with it.”

Kovacevich says these illicit operations often sell vaporizers and other products that are untested and potentially unsafe, contributing to the wave of vapingrelated illnesses sweeping the nation.

He blames the fact that California doesn’t have enough retail cannabis stores to meet the needs of the state, and many cities have none at all, since the state left it up to municipalities to determine if they would have dispensaries.

“There are not enough stores from the convenience standpoint and because of the testing requirements and all the onerous red tapes, pricing is significantly higher, so the black market is winning on convenience and price,” he said. “The key to taking back the market is to make it more convenient, by allowing more retail stores, and driving the cost down by lowering taxes.”

He sees the need for the federal government to begin regulating the industry to ensure what’s in cannabis and vaping products is safe. Of course, that would involve removing it from the list of Schedule I drugs.

He pointed out that research has shown teen use decreases in states that establish legal, adultsonly stores.

“Everyone is looking for a reason to say legalizing cannabis is a bad idea, but I think if we can create fair, strong regulation, we can make sure the integrity of these products is kept,” he said. “The question is, ‘Why would you not legalize?’ You’re reducing the likelihood that kids will get involved. You’re reducing the crime aspects and you’re making safer, more effective products available for adults who choose to use it.” c www.kushco.com

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SOWING SEEDS Marlon Asher’s music and business plant the seeds of positivity

By Addison Herron-Wheeler In the cannabis industry, there are all kinds of movers and shakers. Many musicians who get into the industry do so to promote their own name, with a lack of integrity. Not Marlon Asher. Everything the Trinidadian reggae singer does, he does out of his genuine love for the plant, including the music he records and the products that he releases. His seed company, currently under rebranding, is all about creation and cultivation, and his music is all about harmony. Between touring with countless reggae acts and even Boyz II Men, Asher’s fingerprint in the music world is as evident as ever. CULTURE caught up with Asher to discuss his contribution to the Caribbean reggae music scene, including his recent hit “Ganja Farmer” and his love for the leafy green.

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that people are going to recognize the growth and the changes we’ve been through over the years.

How did you first get into music and making music?

I first got into music at my grandfather’s church by being a part of the choir, and I fell in love with reggae music in my teenage years. I started performing around my village, and then I got recognized by some producers and started to make music my career.

“I would like to see an end to prohibition and see [cannabis] decriminalized.

So far, I don’t really see a benefit from legalization, as the people who have been in the industry so long aren’t seeing a benefit from it; it’s the corporations who are benefiting.”

Is there anything exciting you’re working on right now that you want to announce?

Right now I’m on tour, and I’ve also been working on my newest album.

What has the recording process been like for this album?

Right now, we’re actually in the planning stages of the new music. This time, we’re really trying to put everything together so there will be a flow, and we won’t have to guess what we want to happen. We want it to be special.

How do you think this is going to stand out from your other work?

What is really going to stand out is the fact

When did cannabis first become a part of your life, and why was it important to you?

Cannabis is important to me, because it’s a medicine.

You can really see the effects of it and how it helps people. One of my big hits, “Ganja Farmer,” was about the people who are dedicated to cannabis, to highlight some of the things that were going on in my country with cannabis and the people growing it. The song became really popular, and I think it has a really good message.

How has cannabis impacted you personally?

Personally, it kind of puts me in that meditative state that I like to be in when I want to get closer to God. It’s definitely positive when it comes to meditation and mental expansion.

What do you think the world of cannabis is going to be like in the future? How would you like to see it work in five years?

I would like to see an end to prohibition and see it decriminalized. So far, I don’t really see a benefit from legalization, as the people who have been in the industry so long aren’t seeing a benefit from it; it’s the corporations who are benefiting. I hope in the near future, cannabis won’t be criminalized, and no one will be chastised for using it.

What do you hope people take away the most from your music? How do you hope it influences people?

The main message I hope people take away is the oneness of people, the fact that music was made to bring people together and heal people. I really want that to be what I bring to the table.

Is there anything else you want to highlight?

I’m on tour now, and I’m about to start my seed business in the Caribbean. I also just want to tell people to take care of each other and love each other. That’s mainly what I want people to understand.

With your seed company, is there anything you want to announce or highlight?

Well we are currently rebranding, coming up with a new name and a new concept behind the business. We’re planning to launch everything soon. c

www.facebook.com/mrmarlonasher CultureMagazine.com

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The Cocktail Whisperer Warren Bobrow will make your holidays merry with cannabis spirits

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By Addison Herron-Wheeler

t’s once again the season to be merry, and for a lot of adults, that means more cocktails at holiday parties and family gatherings. But some people would rather light up around the Christmas tree than drink alcohol and be subject to the inevitable after-effects.

Those folks are in luck, because Warren Bobrow, a cannabis cocktail master, is here to make that tradition a thing of the past.

Bobrow has used his unmatched cannabis mixology know-how to write a book on the craft called Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails & Tonics: The Art of Spirited Drinks and Buzz-Worthy Libations.

He’s also a master menu-creator when it comes to infusions with cannabis.

CULTURE chatted with the “Cocktail Whisperer” about how to keep things merry and bright this season with a little bit of liquid cheer.

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How did you first get interested in mixology, specifically with cannabis?

I had experimented with mixing cannabis with craft spirits after visiting New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail in 2016. I had scheduled a book signing at the Pharmacy Museum for my third book of six, Bitters and Shrub Syrup Cocktails.

At the same time, the museum was holding an exhibit on cannabis in the early apothecary.

My dream was hatched! As a master mixologist and cannabis smoker since the tender age of 12 and the eldest grandson of the owner/manufacturer of Geritol, my inspiration was at hand with several books on healing measures, such as my first book, Apothecary Cocktails. The only ingredient missing in that early cocktail book (2013) was cannabis. In the early apothecary, cannabis was probably the only ingredient that actually did anything!

What about cannabis cocktails do you think invites creativity and experimenting?

The feeling of the crossfade is the most intriguing thing. You just don’t get that euphoric feeling from CBD; that’s why I hardly work with it. I like the feeling that I get from THC. And I believe for the entourage effect to be most pronounced, you need THC and CBD—not just CBD. It’s a balance.

Like life itself.

Tell us about your writing career— how did you start writing?

I was initially a trained chef from dish sink on up. I have an incredibly deep knowledge of food journalism and writing. Clementine Paddleford was an early inspiration, as was Penelope Casas. I’ve always been comfortable writing in blogs, but never in the “real world.”

After losing my fresh pasta

How did you first start using cannabis, and how did it influence your life and creative process?

I was at a good old Grateful Dead show in 1972 at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. The cannabis may or may not have actually been cannabis. It might have been gerbil droppings for all I knew.

But there was something in there that made me more relaxed than I had ever been. Our plant brought me relief of the pain of being Warren. It helped me focus and drill down into my own history.

What is your favorite strain or product, and what’s your favorite cannabis cocktail?

My favorite cannabis cocktail is the Mezzrole Cocktail, named for Mezz Mezzrow, a jazz-era musician, who not-so-coincidently was Louis Armstrong’s weed dealer in the ’20s

“You just don’t get that euphoric feeling from CBD; that’s why I hardly work with it.

I like the feeling that I get from THC. And I believe for the entourage effect to be most pronounced, you need THC and CBD—not just CBD. It’s a balance. Like life itself.” business in hurricane Hugo in 1989, I was forced by necessity to pay off my loans by working in a series of private banks for 20 years, all the while nurturing a career working in wine and spirits on my days off and as a private chef. But it was not fulfilling. I needed to write, but I didn’t know how.

I ended up taking some food writing classes, one at the New School with Andy Smith and the other at the then French Culinary Institute for Alan Richman.

Alan said I would be making a big mistake by going back into banking. He was right!

and ’30s. A particularly well-rolled cannabis joint was known by the “Hep Cats” as a Mezzrole. A joint or a reefer might get you arrested if you asked the wrong person for one, like a policeman. But a Mezzrole was the hip codeword for reefer in the Jazz Era. What do you think the world of legalization will look like in five or 10 years? Do you think ordering a cannabis cocktail in a bar will ever become the norm?

I hope that the stigma dissipates somewhat along with legalization as it spreads around the country.

Unfortunately, there are many

preconceived notions about cannabis cocktails. Most importantly, “Will I get destroyed?”

That is a real possibility, but I suggest taking the Thai food approach. Never would you go to a Thai restaurant for the first time and order your food five star, Thai Hot. It’s just not done; you’d be destroyed!

Cannabis cocktails are the same. You want to start really slowly. They hit pretty fast, so less is definitely more.

You can always add, never subtract.

But should you take too much, some CBD or a combination of peppercorns and lemon juice work just fine. Don’t be like those folks on VICELAND Live (I made them a THC/ CBD cocktail with Barrell Bourbon and oven-caramelized blood orange juice) who had way more than one per hour.

Each drink was at least 100 milligrams of THC . . . They had several in the first 15 minutes or so . . . and then they went out on live TV. It was memorable.

Is there anything specific you want to announce, focus on, or highlight right now?

I’m doing a mocktail for TSO Sonoma in December, and I’m releasing a liveresin, ready-to-drink mocktail into the market shortly in California. Stay tuned! It’s unlike anything available with an onset time of just a few short minutes, and it’s delicious. My triedand-true recipes. I’m always focusing on the sales of my book, Cannabis Cocktails, Mocktails and Tonics. It’s available on Amazon, Barnes/Noble, Indigo Books in Canada and most indie bookstores globally.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Don’t be afraid of cannabis cocktails.

They were making them over 100 years ago in pharmacies. They work for me with my glaucoma, and I hope they offer a non-confrontational approach to “taking your medicine.”

At least no one would know that your Vietnamese iced coffee had both THC-infused, condensed milk and Rhum Agricole from Martinique in it. c

cocktailwhisperer.com CultureMagazine.com

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Grow a Winter Crop

GROWING CULTURE

The Autumn Garden

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By Ed Rosenthal very part of North America has its own unique climate. Oakland, California near San Francisco, has an unusual post-summer glow, and the wind changes direction around Labor Day. Rather than blowing ocean-cooled air onto land—creating the Bay Area’s famous fog—the wind changes direction, creating a clear and sunny September that often stretches into October.

My home garden, surrounded by structures and trees, loses direct light due to the autumn sun moving closer to the horizon each day. However, a licensed outdoor garden is on flat land with no obstructions, so it stays sunny the whole day. It seemed like the only solution for this lonely post-harvest farm was to get it working again. I was able to locate 6,000 clones, which were placed three per container.

To do this, the soil was broken up a bit using a pitchfork, then the clones were planted by hand. It took three people about four days to accomplish this task.

Then the containers were watered using

The buds were set out in midAugust, three per pot.

Plants being harvested.

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Some were planted even before the last crop was totally harvested.

A floral bouquet.

drip emitters that were installed for the last crop.

During the first week, the dark cycle was broken using an HPS lamp mounted on a wooden pole that was permanently secured to a wagon using cement. I was wheeled through aisles in the field so that all the plants got a full light bath twice each night. Each time the light hit the plants they restarted the chemical process that triggers flowering. The plants do not receive a long enough stretch of uninterrupted darkness, preventing the plants from flowering.

After one week of vegetative growth in their new quarters, the lights were turned off. The dark period (dusk to dawn, about 9.5 hours) was long enough to induce flowering. The clear sunny weather and daytime temperature in the range of 65 to 75 degrees, was perfect weather for plant and flower growth.

As the plants flowered they continued to grow a bit so each triad filled the containers. Bud stretch, common when buds grow in hot weather, was absent.

These buds were tight nugs, covered with trichomes and extremely fragrant. c

Field of plants ready to harvest.

Each container contained three plants.

Containers being wheeled to the processing/ drying area.

Plants being hung.

DECEMBER 2019 CultureMagazine.com

Example of a ripe bud.

Powerlift is used to reach upper levels.

You can grow plants indoors if you have a sunny south-facing window or enclosed patio. Start with seeds or clones. Using clones cuts the time to harvest by two to three weeks.

Plant them in one to five-gallon containers filled with a premium planting mix for indoor cultivation. Since the days are short, which induces flowering, break up the dark cycle two or three times each night using a small wattage bulb such as a compact fluorescent (CFL) on a timer. The light needs to flash on for as little as one minute to keep the plant from flowering.

Once they have grown a bit, stop the light enhancement and keep the plants in the dark all night. In about eight weeks the buds will be ready to harvest. The plants and the buds probably won’t be giants, but they should be high quality and fresh.

Example of a ripe bud.

Example of a ripe bud.

Plants hanging on 3 levels.

Dried Mochi bud.

NEWS of the

WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL

LEAD STORY— INEXPLICABLE Mothers Lounge, a company catering to new mothers, has conceived some awkward conversations for women on the receiving end of a recent marketing campaign. The company sent out maternity congratulations cards signed by “Jenny B” that included gift cards and coupons for products attractive to pregnant women. The problem is, as the BBC reported, many of the recipients aren’t pregnant. A woman in Memphis, Tennessee,

tweeted: “Who the hell is Jenny B and why did she send me $245 in gift cards to my childhood home congratulating me on my pregnancy?! This is literally how my mother thought she was finding out that I was pregnant. I’m calling the FBI.” Another woman’s mother was “immediately so excited and freaked out . . . I had to quickly tell her I am not in fact pregnant.” Mothers Lounge spokesman Scott Anderson explained that a thirdparty marketing company provided the mailing list.

Sounds like a false-positive to us.

COMPELLING EXPLANATION An unnamed resident of the Wilson Lane apartments in Elkins, West Virginia, told police she left her home for a

few minutes on Oct. 18, returning a short time later to find a neighbor, Ronald L. Thorne Jr., 52, “standing in her apartment eating her lasagna from the refrigerator.” He went on to tell her he “just wanted to talk and maybe more,” and then he returned to his own apartment, carrying the lasagna and one of her forks, according to the police report. The Inter-Mountain reports the woman also told Randolph County Sheriff’s officers that her home had been ransacked and $20 was missing from her purse.

When officers confronted Thorne, he told them he “had been sleepwalking and had woke up standing in his neighbor’s apartment,” the complaint stated. The officers also noticed a pan of lasagna on his table, and Thorne told them “she

could have it back.” Thorne was arrested and charged with burglary; as he was being processed, a $20 bill was found in his wallet.

SMOOTH REACTION In Shelbyville, Kentucky, on Oct. 28, a female customer picking up her food at a KFC drive-thru became angry when she realized she didn’t have a fork and a napkin, witnesses told WLKY, so she pulled out a gun and shot out the drive-thru window. KFC released a statement expressing gratitude that no one was shot, and Charlene Witt, the manager of the Subway restaurant across the street, is using the incident as a teaching moment in her own store: “If someone comes in irate, just give them what they want.”

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